LETTERS

It is being made out ("The Importance of Being Sonia Gandhi", January 31) as if Sonia Gandhi is the ultimate panacea for both the nation and the Congress(I). She may be an accomplished linguist, have an aptitude for folk and tribal arts, and be more 'Indian' than anyone else. But it is still unknown how good an administrator and statesman she is. The nationwide speculation on whether or not Sonia will take over the party's leadership shows the nation's political bankruptcy and the Congress(I)'s inability to produce a satisfactory prime minister.

Asansol R. CHATTERJEE

I don't think dynastic democracy is detrimental to the nation if the majority of citizens opt for it. Since democracy is "a government of the people, for the people and by the people", it does not matter whether it is dynastic or not.

Baroda laxman sharma

The Indian National Congress, which is a motley crowd representing all shades of political thought, is more of a movement than a political party. Therefore, it is the real Hindutva party. The B)P is the militant face of Hinduism- a sort of Rapid Action Force deployed by it in the rarest of rare moments. but otherwise almost always confined to the barracks. As with Hinduism, nobody can kill the Congress(I); it will continue to function in one form or another. Coimbatore v. mohan das

Even after more than 45 years of democracy, it is deplorable that we are still looking towards dynastic rule. The attitude of some senior Congress(I) leaders who are trying to protect their selfish interests through Sonia Gandhi only shows their lack of self-confidence. Politics, like forms of life, needs crossbreeding to emerge stronger and it is naive to believe that only one dynasty is the best and the only option.

Madras K. HARI KUMAR

UNHEALTHY POPULISM

With the help of populist slogans ("Cornered into Action", January 31), the opposition parties gained power in the two southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Now these slogans are being repeated in all states for the forthcoming elections. If the Opposition wins, circumstances may force the Lok Sabha to be dissolved. But there is no single party in sight to form a stable government. India lost a lot because of the experiments of 1977 and 1989. If the same situation is repeated, it will not be healthy for a country which essentially needs a stable government. It makes no difference who wins. New Delhi prakash

VANITY FAIR

The money spent on the World Tamil Conference ("Jayalalitha's Jamboree", January 31) could have been used to repair roads and bridges, institute scholarships and revamp public as well as the Madras University libraries. This extravaganza, a self-glorification of one person, has hit the common man hard. Pondicherry D. GUNDU RAO

While Seshan is trying his best to circumscribe election expenditure, the Tamils are busy feeding the "white elephant" that is Jayalalitha. The Tamil Nadu chief minister needs to know that in the land of Gandhi there is no place for ostentation. You can contribute to this country simply by preventing the waste of paper. Her enormous cardboard cut-outs do not help this cause. Bikaner B. KLMAWAT

IT CUTS BOTH WAYS

Benazir's resorting" to gunboat diplomacy ("Calling it Quits", January 31) is not surprising, but this dubious move has put her government in a predicament. The closing down of the Indian consulate in Karachi, from India's point of view, could not have occurred at a more unfortunate time. The plummeting relationship is indeed cause for concern. Bangalore samrat ghosh

SPAREATHOUGHT

One can only pity the former militants ("Better Jail Than Bail", January 31) who suffer callous police and legal harassment. Some who surrendered and returned home on bail were not able to lead a placid life. We need to commiserate with these former militants who lead a gnawing life in jail, with volleyball as their only diversion. These people must be treated like human beings and they do deserve a second chance. Their progeny won't condone the authorities concerned if action is not taken in time. The Punjab Government must wake up and take necessary action to eradicate the problems of these former militants. New Delhi G. rana

WISE DISCRETION

Jayalalitha's policy of 'silence is golden' ("A Secretive State", January 31) towards the press is commendable. She did the right thing by maintaining a safe distance. Leaking information to the press would only, in most cases, be misunderstood and may give rise to innumerable controversies. It would also retard the development of the state. A look at Tamil Nadu's accelerating development is enough to tell us about the policy's golden gains, unlike states such as Bihar, which try vigorously to be in the limelight but have little or no chance of development. Hyderabad s. PANDHARPURKAR

BEAUTIFUL TOUCH

It ("Carrying Hope", January 15) is one of the most beautiful articles that have been written in the recent past. It can touch even the hardest of hearts and make our worries and problems look so small. Medak, Andhra Pradesh LEENA

You have asked 1 3 families about their hopes for their children, and none of them want their children to become politicians. This just proves what the common man thinks about politicians.

New Delhi ARUS K.

Reading the story I felt proud, hoping to be a grandfather in India as I watch my only daughter expecting a child. It was refreshing to read such a story after reading about political one-upmanship, Sushmita Sen, the sugar muddle and ATR reports. Hyderabad v.v. HARI PRASAD

ARJUN SINGH CAN GO

It ("Arjun's Exit Policy", January 15) is a changing phase in the annals of the Congress(I). It should be taken to be a 'take it easy policy'. The Congress(I) has seen such a situation many times and has come out with flying colours after a while. There are hundreds of Arjun Singhs but there is only one Congress(I). Coimbatore J. SIBRAMANIAN

Arjun Singh's resignation is the first signal that a Mahabharata is going to break out in the Congress(I) very soon. Tiruchi L. ROHINI

ESCAPIST SILENCE

As Zafar Saifullah and Kalpnath Rai blamed each other ("Sugar Muddle", January 15), one thing was evident: both of them had kept quiet during the crisis. Saifullah's claim that his duties are only informative and not coordinative is an escapist attitude, as these two duties are interlinked. New Delhi K.c. PANDEY

CENSORING REALITY

I don't see any reason why the film Bombay ("Falling in Love with the Enemy", January 15) should face cuts, as it portrays the communal riots in Bombay and views them through the eyes of the common man. Censoring the film means censoring reality. If other films which show politics and vulgarity are given a clean chit, then why not Bombay? This clearly shows the biased attitude of the Censor Board towards the film. Thane s.M. iyer

INSPIRING THE YOUNG

Your article ("Those Who Made A Difference", January 15) was remarkable both in its approach and presentation. In these times, when people indulge in the abuse of power, it is heartening to learn that there are stray cases of people who have worked to give speedy justice or cleanse the filthy electoral system, or put India on the world missile map. These towering personalities have not only covered themselves in glory, they are also worthy role models for the younger generation. Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh. M. NAGESH babii

NO RIGHT TO BE BLATANT

The recent wave of using sex in advertisements ("Some Like It Hot", January 15), irrespective of the product, is certainly not acceptable. Sex may have come out of the closet but that does not give the advertisers the right to produce vulgar advertisements.

Bangalore s. Kumar

HAMLETS NOT NEEDED

The essay ("Profiles in Cowardice". January 15) was in good taste. It is true that the power and influence of a politician is gauged by his ability to take swift decisions, based on the merits of the issue, not for its political consequences. If the head of the Government is unable to decide whether his ministers are corrupt or not, then it can be attributed to either complicity or spinelessness, both qualities which India could well do without. Nainital P. PANDE

WILL CONGRESS DO A DODO?

The Congress(I) ("Titanic Triumph", December 31) enjoys the most dubious distinction of being "the most endangered species-shortly to become extinct" in Andhra Pradesh, thanks to the total bungling of affairs by K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy. The decision to make him the CLP leader in Andhra Pradesh once more speaks volumes of the prime minister's infinite trust in him.

Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh C. SUNITA REDDY

MAKE UP FOR WRONGS

People like Brigadier Jolly. Brigadier Grewal, Major Talwar and their ilk. by their mala fide intentions, give the army a bad name ("Spy Scandal: Too Many Loose Ends", December 31). Sympathies of the common man will always lie with people such as Major Ajwani, Captain Rathore and Captain Rana, who lived through hell all these years for a crime they did not commit. Justice demands that the record be set right by the army before the case comes up for hearing in the Supreme Court. Jammu V.K. AWASTHI

GIVE THEM FREEDOM

If the exodus of engineers ("Exodus of the Elite", November 30) is such an alarming problem, then the solution lies in making the engineering career at least as attractive as management, in terms of challenge, freedom to introduce innovations in the plant and manufacturing process and, of course, compensation for services rendered. New Delhi H.v. PANT

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